Pollo en Crema (Creamy Chicken)

Pollo en Crema (or Creamy Chicken) is a favorite dish at my house.

Creamy is dreamy! The sauce is rich and so good.

What I love most about this recipe is that it’s ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight.

Served with flour tortillas. Simply delicious!

Ingredients

Chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or any cut of chicken work for this recipe.

Olive Oil or any oil of your preference.

Butter – You can use all butter and no oil. In that case, you will need half a stick of butter. 2 tbsp to sear the chicken and 2 tbsp for the sauce.

Onion and garlic

Mushrooms – These are white mushrooms, but you can very well use cremini mushrooms or baby portobello.

Chipotle in Adobo Sauce – or use red pepper flakes to make it less spicy.

Mexican Crema, sour cream, or heavy cream are good options here.

Chicken Bouillon – This is a popular ingredient in the Mexican cuisine. Swap out for more salt.

Salt and pepper

The Name Game

This recipe has many names including “Pollo con Crema,” “Pollo a la Crema,” and “Pollo Encremado.” Or as it is being called here, “Pollo en Crema.”

It’s also is great example of how Mexican food does not always mean spicy food.

Instructions

• Start by adding salt and pepper to the chicken.
• Then searing it in a skillet on medium-high heat.

Tender chicken thighs are more flavorful. Once it is brown on one side, turn the chicken and sear on the other side.

Turning the chicken too early will tear the skin. Give it the time it needs to sear well.

Then remove the chicken. It will not be fully cooked. It’ll finish cooking later. 

• Remove the chicken from the pan, and adjust to medium-low heat.
• Melt butter and add onion. Cook for 1 minute.
• Add the mushrooms and garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes.

Do you see that golden color? That means flavor.

It may look dry at first, but the mushrooms will give off liquid, releasing the juices on the bottom of the skillet.

• Add the cream, chipotle, and chicken bouillon. Mix.
• Then return the chicken pieces to the skillet.
• Stir everything to combine. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.

If the chicken is not cooked after 5 minutes, add 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Cover and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes.

Pro Tips

You can also pour 1/4 cup of water to the skillet. If you decide to add water, just know that the cream sauce will be more thin and not as thick.

You can use heavy whipping cream, Mexican crema, or crema agria (sour cream).

If you use milk, try using cornstarch diluted in water to thicken up the sauce.

Be sure to scrape down the sides of the skillet, and don’t forget to taste for salt.

Herbs you can add to give it more flavor – tarragon, basil, thyme, or parsley.

More Mexican Cream Sauces:

• Camarones en Crema
• Espagueti a la Crema
• Rajas con Crema
• Chicken in Creamy Poblano Sauce

Tell me this Pollo en Crema doesn’t look fantastic! To make it a hearty meal, serve with a side of Arroz Blanco, Refried Beans, and warm tortillas. Buen provecho!

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Pollo en Crema (Creamy Chicken)

For a stress-free weeknight dinner, Pollo en Crema satisfies like nothing else. Tender and juicy chicken combined with a heavenly mushroom sauce. It’s a cozy wholesome meal.

4.99 from 67 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 653kcal

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• ▢ 4 bone-in chicken thighs
• ▢ Salt and Pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons butter
• ▢ ¼ onion diced
• ▢ 1 8- ounce container of sliced mushrooms
• ▢ 1 garlic clove finely minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Knorr Selects® Granulated Chicken Flavor Bouillon
• ▢ 1 cup heavy whipping cream or crema mexicana
• ▢ 2 chipotle peppers in adobo finely minced

Instructions

• In a large skillet, heat oil.
• Add salt and pepper to both sides of the chicken.
• Sear the chicken on both sides.
• Remove chicken from pan.
• (Note: Chicken will not be fully cooked).
• Melt butter in the skillet and add onion.
• Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Add the mushrooms.
• Stir to combine.
• Cook for 4-5 minutes.
• Add the garlic clove, chicken bouillon, whipping cream, and chipotle.
• Stir to combine.
• Return the chicken to the skillet.
• Turn the heat to low.
• Cover and cook for 5 minutes more, or until chicken is fully cooked.
• Serve with rice and veggies.
• Enjoy!

Notes

You use any cut of chicken to make this recipe. 

Be sure to scrape down the sides of the skillet as you're making the sauce.

Instead of heavy whipping cream or crema mexicana:  you can use sour cream, evaporated milk, or regular milk. 

• If you use milk, try using cornstarch diluted in water to thicken up the sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 653kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 59g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Cholesterol: 238mg | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 554mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1162IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg

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